Bhubaneswar: Defying the Odisha Emergency Services (Maintenance) Act (ESMA) and the threat of the action against them, nursing staff in all state-run hospitals and healthcare centers in Odisha launched their two-day cease work agitation in support of their 10-point charter of demands on Wednesday.
The stir called under the aegis of the Odisha Nursing Employees’ Association (ONEA) threatens a complete cease work agitation from September 27 if the government fails to meet the demands. Currently, the agitating nurses have left the emergency department, ICU and OT out of the purview of their strike.
On the other hand, Dr Artabandhu Nayak, Director of Nursing, said, “The ESMA will be effective for six months from August 6 and no employee is permitted to strike. Stringent measures will be implemented against the nursing staff joining the cease work stir.”
Odisha Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, however, expressed hope that the issue would be solved amicably through discussions. He said that the association has been invited for a discussion.
“The government is hopeful that the outcome will be positive and there will be no disruption in healthcare services,” he said.
